My friend Al passed away from liver cancer a mere six weeks after diagnosis. He had hepatitis, but never knew about its link to liver cancer. No doctor told him. And, unfortunately, he was asymptomatic until it was too late.

We've come a long way in laying the foundation to address this deadly disease. As I complete my tenure as ASH, I am moved by the public health legacy around viral hepatitis that has developed during my time in office.

A landmark public-health achievement -- stopping suffering and death from end-stage liver disease and liver cancer, while reducing and even eliminating new infections -- is well within our grasp. But we must commit to this plan and work fast.

Early diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C is critical to ending the epidemic. With sofosbuvir and simeprevir, combined with evidenced-based behavioral health interventions such as needle exchange and peer support we can -- and will -- save lives.

Al said to me that if he survived he wanted to educate people. He wanted people to know the risks associated with hepatitis. He wanted them to know about liver cancer. Five years later, we're still not there.

Most Pakistani-Americans, including myself, are relieved that bin Laden is no longer able to plan acts of terrorism. However, what is missing from this narrative is the method used by the CIA to glean the information about his whereabouts.